Full-Time

Spacecraft Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

Apex

Apex

51-200 employees

Manufactures customizable ESPA class satellites

Compensation Overview

$160k - $190kAnnually

Senior

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Category
Manufacturing Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Engineering Management
Required Skills
CAD
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 6+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
  • Proven experience in aerospace, satellite, or related industries, with a focus on high-precision manufacturing.
  • Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, lean principles, and quality control systems.
  • Proficiency in CAD software and familiarity with automation and digital manufacturing tools.
  • Excellent project management and organizational skills, with a track record of delivering on-time and within budget.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams.
  • Passion for space technology and a desire to contribute to the advancement of satellite manufacturing.
Responsibilities
  • Lead and manage the manufacturing engineering team, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
  • Develop and implement scalable manufacturing processes for small satellite production, ensuring efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, test, and supply chain, to align manufacturing strategies with product development.
  • Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and improve production performance.
  • Oversee the design and implementation of production tooling, fixtures, and automation to optimize throughput and reduce variability.
  • Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance manufacturing capabilities, reduce cycle times, and improve product reliability.
  • Manage manufacturing budgets, timelines, and resource allocation to meet production goals.
  • Support the scaling of production operations as the company grows, including the design of new manufacturing facilities and processes.
Desired Qualifications
  • Advanced degree preferred.

Apex Space manufactures ESPA class satellites, focusing on their flagship product, the Aries satellite bus, which is suitable for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and other missions. They provide customizable satellite solutions for clients in the aerospace and defense sectors, including government agencies and commercial enterprises, for applications like Earth observation and communications. Apex Space differentiates itself with guaranteed on-time delivery, high reliability, and transparent pricing. Their goal is to lead in spacecraft manufacturing by offering reliable and tailored satellite solutions for a variety of space missions.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Series B

Total Funding

$118.5M

Headquarters

Los Angeles, California

Founded

2022

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Apex won a $45.9 million Space Force contract, expanding its mission capabilities.
  • Toyota Ventures invested in Apex, supporting cost reduction and rapid delivery goals.
  • Apex's partnership with Anduril enables rapid space system development for the U.S.

What critics are saying

  • Apex faces competition from SpaceX and Blue Origin in satellite manufacturing.
  • Reliance on a single production facility may cause production delays.
  • Dependence on government contracts poses financial risks if priorities shift.

What makes Apex unique

  • Apex specializes in ESPA class satellites, ranging from 40 to 400 kilograms.
  • The Aries satellite bus supports LEO, MEO, GEO, and deep space missions.
  • Apex guarantees on-time delivery, high reliability, and transparent pricing.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Parental Leave

Company Equity

Meal Benefits

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

5%

1 year growth

-9%

2 year growth

-42%
SpaceNews
Feb 13th, 2025
Satellite startup Apex wins $45.9 million Space Force contract

The contract win comes as Apex expands beyond its initial focus on low Earth orbit satellites to develop capabilities for geostationary, medium Earth orbit and deep space missions.

PR Newswire
Oct 1st, 2024
Apex and Anduril Announce Partnership to Advance Space Capabilities

LOS ANGELES and COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Anduril Industries is announcing a strategic partnership with Apex, a Los Angeles-based merchant supplier of productized satellite buses, to enable rapid development and delivery of space systems for the United States and partners.

Medium
Jun 12th, 2024
Toyota Ventures Invests in Apex Space

Toyota Ventures has invested in Apex Space, a Los Angeles-based company founded in 2022, which manufactures satellite buses at scale. Apex aims to reduce costs and lead times for satellites by using standardization and rapid delivery. Their first model, the Aries satellite bus, is a 100kg platform capable of carrying a payload and fuel mass of up to 150kg. Since 2015, space companies have received $286 billion in investment, with 86% going towards satellite technologies.

SpaceNews
Jun 12th, 2024
Apex raises $95 million to increase satellite bus production

Satellite manufacturing startup Apex has raised $95 million to allow it to ramp up production of “productized” satellite buses to tap into growing demand.

SpaceNews
Jun 12th, 2024
Apex raises $95 million to increase satellite bus production

WASHINGTON - Satellite manufacturing startup Apex has raised $95 million to allow it to ramp up production of "productized" satellite buses to tap into growing demand, particularly from national security customers.